All Smart Grid Score Cards A regular feature of Smart Grid News is the SGN Tech Take. In this series of articles, power engineer and architect Erich Gunther evaluates actual products and services against the SGN Smart Grid Scorecard. Jul 6, 2009    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion   12 Active Comment(s)

What Is Missing In Our Fundamental Knowledge of Smart Grid Implementation The GridWise Alliance’s Implementation Work Group was established to improve and accelerate the progress of smart grid demonstrations and learn from these efforts for the benefit of nation-wide smart grid implementation. This document identifies gaps in knowledge about the implementation of smart grid technologies and recommends critical areas where information should be tracked and presented to understand the level of success of smart grid projects. Nov 9, 2009    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion

Strategic Technology Research Backgrounder - Carbon Capture and Storage EPRI funded a successful project to identify, evaluate, and accelerate postcombustion CO technologies. This effort, which is nearing completion, led to the valuation of over seventy CO capture processes. Jun 15, 2009    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion

Greenbox Delivers Energy Usage Understanding to Utility Customers Greenbox Technology Inc. is demonstrating an integrated Internet service that lets consumers view, interpret, and act on their everyday utility consumption. Have they succeeded at creating a truly useful portal? Click to read why it scores 85 out of 100 on the SGN Smart Grid Scorecard. Jun 9, 2009    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion   2 Active Comment(s)

Piloting the Smart Grid What new services will the smart grid provide customers? Do customers want these new services? Will they respond by changing their energy use patterns? The answers to these questions will help policymakers in federal and state government determine whether the benefits of the smart grid will cover its costs. May 29, 2009    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion

Can Utilities Have Their Cake and Eat it Too with the ICI Networks MISUR™ Router? Technology expert Erich W. Gunther says the Modular Infrastructure Scalable Router (MISUR™) from ICI Networks might just raise a few eyebrows. Although considered by most to be the "gold standard" when it comes to measuring the functionality of network infrastructure solutions, "substation hardened" has not typically been used within the Cisco vocabulary. Can utilities have their cake and eat it too with the ICI Networks MISUR™ router? Click to read why it scores 80 out of 100 on the SGN Smart Grid Scorecard. Mar 16, 2009    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion

DNP Secure Authentication – Essential to Smart Grid Progress Until the arrival of the DNP Secure Authentication protocol, some utilities were backing away from Smart Grid initiatives over concerns the security costs would be too high. Power engineer and systems architect Erich W. Gunther gives the new specification 80 out of 100 on the SGN Smart Grid Scorecard. Click to find out why he thinks it’s critical to keeping utilities on the safe path to a Smart Grid. Nov 18, 2008    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion   14 Active Comment(s)

Cybectec Substation Gateways - 85 out of 100 Award-winning power engineer Erich Gunther is back with another in-depth Tech Take. He’s outdone himself this time, with a review that acts as an excellent introductory tutorial to Substation Gateways and their importance to the Smart Grid. He also looks closely at Cybectec’s Substation Modernization Platform family and awards it an 85 out of 100 on the SGN Smart Grid Scorecard. Nov 5, 2008    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion   4 Active Comment(s)

Trilliant’s SecureMesh: Great Interoperability, but Can It Scale? Technology expert Erich Gunther says Trilliant’s SecureMesh communications is a standards-based way to rapidly deploy mesh networks in dense urban environments. But can it scale? Click to read why SecureMesh rates a 74 out of 100 on the SGN Scorecard. Sep 23, 2008    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion   1 Active Comment(s)

Time, who has the time? Smart Grid time that is. Power engineer Erich W. Gunther gives the Arbiter Satellite Clock from Arbiter Systems an 84 out of 100 on the SGN Smart Grid Scorecard. Click to read why it scores so well (and where it still has problems). Aug 26, 2008    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion   1 Active Comment(s)

IntelliTEAM® -- Designed With the Smart Grid Utility in Mind This Tech Take examines the IntelliTEAM II® system, a collection of products from S&C Electric Company that provides the distribution network owner an effective automated response to faults on feeders. Overall, IntelliTEAM II scores reasonably well, though some key challenges remain to be addressed. Jul 22, 2008    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion   2 Active Comment(s)

Does your power system always have a pulse? Does your power system always have a pulse? Use this Smart Grid technology -- Dranetz-BMI’s 5530 Signature System DataNode® for a continuous view on the instantaneous pulse of the power system at the point it is connected. Scoring 76 out of 100, it achieves a passing grade and qualifies as Smart Grid technology but needs some updating on the communications side. Mar 26, 2008    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion

SMART GRID NEWS TALK BACK BUZZ San Luis Valley is the Nations Best Model for Renewable As communities and utility companies battle over power lines and who is to blame for falling behind on renewable energy goals, a quiet revolution has occurred right under our nose. With little fanfare, the San Luis Valley has already become the best model for distributed renewable energy generation in the West and maybe even the Nation. When the first energy crisis shook ... Talk Back right now to Ceal Smith